TENSION is mounting as Pakistan and India are taking brisk preparations to face each other militarily. It is alarming for world peace and particularly for peace in this region because any war between these two countries will bring catastrophic effect in the region. Kashmir has been an apple of discord for both countries since the partition of the Sub-continent in 1947. It was also the cause of two wars between the countries. The United Nations and the big powers should play a positive role to diffuse tension. According to latest reports, India claims that it made a "surgical strike" in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and destroyed the launch pads of militants and killed many terrorists. Pakistan ruled out India's claim and termed the attack as border skirmishes between border security forces of two countries and made a counter claim that nine members of Indian security personnel were killed and one was captured. The peace-loving people of the region are against any kind of hostility from any quarter and they want peace and tranquillity to prevail in the region at any cost and hope that both countries will show maximum restraint to facilitate peaceful solution of the conflict. Already more than 70 civilians and two police personnel have been killed and if things continue like this, there will be many more casualties. Both Pakistan and India should take their hands off the guns and find out peaceful means to dissolve the crisis. They should join rest of the countries in the region to wage a war against the poverty and illiteracy and move on the road to prosperity and economic emancipation for their peoples.
Masud Rana
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
